Biography:
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and the Center for Musculoskeletal Research (CMSR) at the University of Rochester. My research interest is to investigate the role of genetic and epigenetic regulations in the onset and progression of musculoskeletal diseases including osteoarthritis (OA). My research approaches include next-generation sequencing, stem cells, and mechanobiology. One in 4 people is predicted to develop hip OA by the age of 85. However, no disease-modifying drugs for OA are available. Thus, there is a great unmet need to identify underlying molecular mechanisms of hip OA pathogenesis. The development of hip OA has been associated with abnormal hip morphology including Cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), a condition of a thickened aspherical femoral head–neck junction. During flexion and internal rotation of the hip, the osseous protrusion of Cam impinges on the acetabulum. Thus, FAI patients may exhibit labral tears and cartilage delamination, leading to onset of hip OA (i.e., hip OA secondary to FAI). As a result, FAI has been considered as a unique early-stage hip OA, allowing researchers to identify factors regulating the pathologic progression of hips. We appreciate the kind support from the ANRF, allowing us to apply several highly innovative strategies including multi-omics, hip OA models, and human primary hip FAI and OA cells to elucidate signaling pathways governing the homeostasis and pathogenesis of hip joints. Upon completion of this study, we will provide critical insights towards effective interventions for hip FAI and OA treatments.
Research Summary:
Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful joint disease and in the absence of disease-modifying drugs, OA is a tremendous burden on our healthcare system. The goal of this proposal is to delineate the functional role of the WNT protein in hip OA using novel mouse hip OA model and Next-generation sequencing approaches. A detailed understanding of the disease mechanisms will provide significant insights into the development of early therapeutic interventions for hip OA.
Learn More:
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/112362496-chia-lung-wu
